Machine for crimping sheet metal



(No Hodel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. G. KEBNE.

MACHINE FOB. GRIMPING SHEET METAL. No. 364,259. I Patented June 7, 1887.

N. P211123 Fhmnrljllwgnpher, Wmhingmn. D. Cv

(No Mddel.)

s sneetssneet a. G. C. KEENE.

MACHINE FOR GRIMPING SHEET METAL. No. 364,259.

Patented June '7, 1887-.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. KEENE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TVO-THIRDS TO LONGLEY LEWIS SAGENDORPI-I AND HARLAN I. LLOYD, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,259, dated June Application filed April 7, 1987. Serial No. 233,980. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. KEENE, a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Crimping Sheet Metal, of which the following is a specification. v

The various features of my invention and the advantages resulting. from their use, con- [0 jointly or otherwise, will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a machine embodying certain features of my invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken at the line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the opposite side of the bracketarm from that shown in Figs. 2

and 3. Fig. 5 is a top view ofthe parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa vertical section of a modification of my machine, showing double dies and the machine in the position offorming the first crimp. Fig. 7 shows the lower part 2 5 of the section shown in Fig. 6, the parts being in the position of forming the second crimp. Fig. Sis a top view of one end of the front die and supporting-table.

I will first proceed to describe the mechano ism illustrated in Figs. .1 to 5, inclusive.

The frame A is made in such a way as to properly support the operating parts of the machine. From the longitudinal beam B the crimping-bar C is suspended by means of tog- 3 5 gle-arms D. The toggle arms are united to a central connecting-rod, E, to which a recipro-.

eating horizontal movement is imparted by means of a cam or eccentric, F. This cam re-.

ceives its motion through a' series of gear- 0 wheels from the crank-wheels G. The flanges a, projecting from the ends of the frames, serve as guides for the crimping-bar. The longitudinal die H is attached to the lower face of the crimping-bar C. Immediately under the 4 5 die H is the female die I, which is supported by the frame-work A.

To the rear of the frame A is placed a lon gitudinal guide or gage, J, which is adjusted with reference to the die I by means of the setscrews J. Two or more bracketarms, K, are bolted to the front of the framework and project forwardly. The rail L is supported on the ends of the bracket-arms K, and extends lengthwise of the machine parallel to the dies. This rail L is provided with grooves Z, conforming in shape to the crimps formed by the several dies used in the machine. The rail L is movable on the bracket-arms K in the direction of the length of the arms. Its movement toward the dies is governed by two setscrews, M, one on each bracket-arm. Each set screw passes through a lug, m, projecting upwardly from the top of the bracket-arm. The forward movement of the rail L is similarly limited by set-screws N.

The set-screws N are screwed through lugs n, projecting from the bracket arms, and impinge against lugs Z, projecting downwardly from the rail. The rail L is also provided with two downwardly-projecting lugs, Zfleach of which passes through a slot, 7;, in bracket-arm K. This se rves to hold the rail to the arms, or at least to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rail. A spring, 0, is stretched between the front end of each bracket-arm and the lug Z". These springs O tend to keep the rail L against the ends of the front setscrews, N. My machine is also preferably provided with a second rail, P, supported on the bracket-arms parallel to the rail L and about midway between the rail L and the dies. This rail P is also preferably provided with adjustable set-screws and springs, as already described for the rail L. As illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, I sometimes provide the machine with two sets of togglearms and dies instead of one. In this modification the second set of arms is preferably operated by an eccentric on the same shaft with the eccentric for the other set of 0 arms; but they may be operated by independent mechanism. In this modification the rail set-screws M.

i the machine, and the springs 0 return the rail the setscrews N, are also placed above the girder instead of under it. To guide the rail L in its movements I provide it with a number of lugs, T, each having a slot, i, through which a screw, T, passes into the girder.

The mode of operation of my machine is as follows: A sheet of metal is laid on the ma chine, resting on the rails L and P and the lower die, I. It is adjusted in position by be ing pushed against the gage J. The upper die is now lowered by turning the crankwheels G, and, forcing the metal into the lower die, forms the desired crimp. This crimp is formed from metal drawn from both sides of the die. The sheet is now removed and reversed and again placed in the machine. This time it is secured in proper position by dropping the formed crimp in the correspondinglyshaped groove Z in the rail L, the rail having been previously properly adjusted by the setscrews N. The sheet in this position is held firmly and the necessity of special clamps dispensed with. The crimping-bar isagain brought down and forms a crimp in the other edge of the sheet. As the upper die descends it forces the metal into thelower die, drawing it from both sides of the die. This movement of the sheet is accommodated by rail L,which is drawn toward the dies against the tension of the springs O. The amount of movement of the rail L toward the dies is limited by the The sheet is now removed from L to its place against the set-screws N. When it is desired to crimp the center of the sheet, one of the edge-erimps is droppedin the groove in the rail P, which serves as a guide, while the die is forced down on the sheet.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the sheet Q is placed in position against the gage J, and the front die, I-I, first descends and forms the first crimp, the die H being meanwhile elevated. The die H now rises and the die H descends and forms the second crimp, and the rail L moves against the tension of the springs O and takes the position shown in Fig. 7. The operation of the rail L and the function it performs are the same in the present in stance as that already described in the opera tion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

The principal advantage'of my machine is the tension device, which is so arranged as to allow of the use of a cheap and low grade of sheet metal without tearing it in crimping.

The readiness with which the sheets are put in position is another feature of importance.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i's

1. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, a sliding guide-rail, in combination with crimping-dies, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the sliding guide-rail L, provided with grooves Z and means for retracting the said rail, in combination with crimping-dies, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the combination of the guideraiLL, suitably supported and provided with groove Z, and setscrew N, for limiting the movement of the rail L, and spring 0, in combination with crimping-dies, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the combination of the guide-rail L, suitably supported and provided with groove Z, setscrews M and N, for limiting the movement of the rail L, and springs O, in combination with crimping-dies, substantial ly as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the combination of the movable guide-rails L and P, provided with grooves to receive the crimps, in combination with crimping-dies, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the combination of crimping-dies and sliding guide-rail L, provided with grooves Z, of different shapes, and means for retracting the said rail, substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

7. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the combination of the dies H and I,.with means for operating the same, the sliding guiderail L, provided with grooves Z and means for retracting the said rail, and the sliding guiderail P, provided with groove Z and means for retracting said rail, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a machine for crimping sheet metal, the combination of the male dies H H, mechanism foroperating the same, female die I, and movable female die L, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

GEORGE O. KEENE.

Witnesses:

PAT KEoUGH, O. M. HILL. 

